Being a parent is hard. Being a mom is hard. And sometimes all you need to make it through a tough day is a reminder that you aren't alone or crazy! Enter Mom Break. A great resource for new (and not so new!) moms that offers a more real and more balanced perspective on motherhood.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Erica, the mama behind Mom Break, then let me introduce you to her! She wears so many hats that even I can’t keep up. Not only is she a mom, but she works full-time and runs THREE businesses on the side (yeah, I haven’t figured out how she does it either!). What I love most about her is that she has no filter (I mean that in the best way possible) and keeps it SO real for all us other moms out there who are just trying to make it through the day in one piece! If you aren’t following her on Instagram, then you should.
I sat down with Erica and asked her a few questions about life as a mom, business owner and how she manages to fit it all in a day.
So for those who aren’t as familiar with Mom Break, how did it all get started for you?
I had just closed two of my businesses (Breelee Boutique and Fabric Crush), and was looking for a creative outlet to channel my “mom life challenges”…so I turned to blogging.
I’ve been told my entire like that “I have no tact” or that my “filter is limited”, so I figured I’d take advantage of my blunt personality and share the real, brutal, amazing, exhausting, life-changing experience that is motherhood. After dealing with post partum depression, I was sick of people sugarcoating the challenges that come along with parenting, and I wish somebody had told me that it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, but also beats me down every single day….and hey, that it’s TOTALLY NORMAL!
I love that this amazing resource brings the challenges and realities of motherhood to the forefront. Have you found Mom Break has been successful in bringing moms together and starting those sometimes hard-to-have conversations? Is it what you expected?
I had hoped that when I started Mom Break it would bring moms together and start some of those difficult conversations, but honestly, I couldn’t even begin to fathom the amazing support I’ve received.
Not only have I made some amazing friends, but I also receive daily feedback from amazing moms thanking me for being real and honest. It’s incredibly humbling.
So let’s get this straight: you’re a busy mom to a toddler (and new baby on the way!), you hold down a full-time job AND you manage to run three successful businesses? What motivates you to do so much and how do you find the time to fit it all in a day?
When you say it that way, it does make me sound a bit insane, but passion is what keeps me going.
The businesses that I run (Mom Break, Bytown Academy, and Erica Fraser Marketing), are all built around helping and supporting women, so I feel incredibly passionate about the work that I do, so it often doesn’t actually feel like work (which certainly helps!).
Yes, some days are harder than others, but my family is always the number 1 priority.
It’s been trial and error learning to fit things in over the year (and it’s not always been easy), but I’ve recently realized that “work-life balance” isn’t a real concept…it’s all about “work-life satisfaction”. The most important thing to me is to love what I’m doing and to surround myself with people who I love.
Also, I have the most supportive husband in the world, who is the secret mastermind behind all my success.
Moms are always told how important self-care is but sometimes it feels impossible to fit it in. Where does self-care fit in there for you and what does that look like?
This concept has changed over time for me, but right now it means not “biting off more that I can chew”. I make a conscious effort to not put unrealistic expectations on myself, and to ask for help when I need it.
For example, right now I’m 36 weeks pregnant and have trouble lifting my toddler, so since my husband will be home late from work, I sucked up my pride and asked my mom to come over and help out. It hurts my ego, but taking care of myself is more important right now.
Being a “mompreneur” is both so rewarding and so exhausting. I know personally how hard it can be to disconnect from my business and focus 100% on my kids and family. Do you have any tips or tricks for disconnecting?
I still struggle with this, especially since Mom Break is so closely tied into my personal life as a mom. When I figure this out, I’ll let you know.
To take some of the pressure off of response time, I have set up auto-responders on social media and email, so that I don’t feel pressured to drop everything and answer immediately. I also make a solid effort (not always successful though) to not answer emails on the weekend.
I’ve received many e-mails and messages from moms looking for tips on opening up a business. What advice do you have for other moms who are contemplating the world of entrepreneurship? Any words of wisdom?
Oh this is a great questions, because people ask me this all the time.
There are so many things that I can share, but the biggest and first thing you need to decide as an entrepreneur is to figure out where you want to go with your business. Do you want to make a few extra bucks on maternity leave? Do you want to take over the world?
Without a clear goal in mind, the road to getting there won’t be clear. So figure out what you want before jumping into things.
Thank you Erica! I know I'm not alone when I say that I love what you're doing and look forward to following along as you enter this new phase of motherhood!! If the rest of you want to do the same, you can find Erica/Mom Break on Instagram and on Facebook. Thanks for reading!